Damping arrangement for battery cell

Abstract

A battery pack including a plurality of battery cells and a battery housing defining a plurality of receptacles each configured to support a respective one of the plurality of battery cells is provided. A plurality of damping inserts are each arranged within a respective one of the plurality of receptacles and positioned between a respective one of the plurality of battery cells and the battery housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A battery pack comprising:
 a plurality of battery cells; 
 a battery housing comprising a plurality of receptacles that receive a respective one of the plurality of battery cells, wherein each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles is separated from one another by a flexible joint connection, wherein the flexible joint connection allows each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles to move independently of one another in the battery housing; 
 a plurality of guide sleeves each having an inner periphery and an outer periphery, wherein each guide sleeve of the plurality of guide sleeves contacts the respective one of the plurality of battery cells at the inner periphery; and 
 a plurality of damping inserts, each damping insert of the plurality of damping inserts positioned between the respective one of the plurality of battery cells and the battery housing, wherein each damping insert of the plurality of damping inserts contacts a respective one of the plurality of guide sleeves at the outer periphery and a portion of the battery housing surrounding the respective one of the plurality of battery cells, and wherein each damping insert of the plurality of damping inserts is separated and offset from the respective one of the plurality of battery cells by the respective one of the plurality of guide sleeves. 
 
     
     
       2. The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of damping inserts are formed from a material having greater flexibility than a material of the battery housing, and wherein each of the plurality of damping inserts are formed as a circular disc. 
     
     
       3. The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein each damping insert of the plurality of damping inserts is formed as a circular disc in direct contact with a respective one of the plurality of receptacles surrounding each of the plurality of battery cells. 
     
     
       4. The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of battery cells are secured within the respective one of the plurality of guide sleeves via an interference fit. 
     
     
       5. The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of damping inserts are formed from a polymer or a metal alloy. 
     
     
       6. The battery pack of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of damping inserts are formed from rubber. 
     
     
       7. The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of damping inserts circumferentially surrounds the respective one of the plurality of battery cells. 
     
     
       8. The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of damping inserts are molded integrally with the battery housing. 
     
     
       9. The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein each damping insert of the plurality of damping inserts is co-molded with the respective one of the plurality of guide sleeves. 
     
     
       10. The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the battery housing further comprises:
 a first rack defining a first plurality of receptacles each configured to receive a top portion of a respective one of the plurality of battery cells; 
 a second rack defining the portion of the battery housing comprising a second plurality of receptacles, wherein the plurality of guide sleeves and the plurality of damping inserts are disposed in the second plurality of receptacles of the second rack, and wherein each of the plurality of battery cells is supported at a medial portion by the respective one of the plurality of guide sleeves; and 
 a third rack defining a third plurality of receptacles each configured to support a bottom portion of a respective one of the plurality of battery cells. 
 
     
     
       11. The battery pack of  claim 10 , wherein the first rack includes a busbar that is electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells, the second plurality of receptacles of the second rack are defined as through apertures, and the third rack includes a cooling plate that directly contacts the plurality of battery cells. 
     
     
       12. The battery pack of  claim 11 , further comprising a first plurality of damping inserts arranged between the first rack and the busbar, and a second plurality of damping inserts arranged between the third rack and the cooling plate. 
     
     
       13. The battery pack of  claim 12 , wherein the racks are segmented into a plurality of rigid rack portions, and a plurality of flexible joints disposed between each one of the plurality of rigid rack portions. 
     
     
       14. The battery pack of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of flexible joints comprise a material having a higher flexibility than a material of the rigid rack portions. 
     
     
       15. The battery pack of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of flexible joints are formed from a same material as the plurality of damping inserts. 
     
     
       16. A battery cell damping system, comprising:
 a battery cell; 
 a battery housing comprising a plurality of receptacles configured to receive and surround a portion of the battery cell, wherein each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles is separated from one another by a flexible joint connection, wherein the flexible joint connection allows each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles to move independently of one another in the battery housing; 
 a guide sleeve in direct contact with a circumferential surface of the battery cell, wherein the guide sleeve is positioned at a medial portion of a length of the battery cell; and 
 a damping insert formed as a circular disc having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the inner diameter of the damping insert is disposed in direct contact with an outermost periphery of the guide sleeve and the outer diameter of the damping insert is disposed in direct contact with an inside surface of the receptacle, and wherein the damping insert provides a flexible connection between the battery cell and the battery housing. 
 
     
     
       17. The battery cell damping system of  claim 16 , wherein the damping insert is only in contact with the receptacle and the guide sleeve at the medial portion of the length of the battery cell. 
     
     
       18. The battery cell damping system of  claim 16 , wherein the damping insert is co-molded with the receptacle of the battery housing, and wherein a material of the damping insert has a higher flexibility than a material of the housing. 
     
     
       19. A battery housing, comprising:
 an array of receptacles, wherein each receptacle in the array of receptacles comprises:
 a rigid rack portion comprising a through aperture and a surface defining a periphery of the through aperture, wherein the rigid rack portions of each receptacle are separated from one another by a flexible joint connection, wherein the flexible joint connection allows each receptacle in the array of receptacles to move independently of one another in the battery housing; 
 a damping insert formed as a circular disc having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein a portion of the outer diameter of the damping insert is arranged in direct contact with the surface of the through aperture; 
 a guide sleeve having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the guide sleeve is arranged in direct contact with the inner diameter of the damping insert, wherein the inner diameter of the guide sleeve is configured to directly contact a circumferential surface of a battery cell disposed in each receptacle, wherein the damping inserts are formed from a material having greater flexibility than a material of the rigid rack portion, and wherein a flexibility of the damping insert relative to the rigid rack portion provides flexibility of the battery cell disposed in each receptacle relative to the battery housing. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The battery housing of  claim 19 , wherein the guide sleeve provides an interference fit with the circumferential surface of the battery cell disposed in each receptacle.